Reports out of Harrisburg indicate that Democrats will introduce legislation that would in effect change or end the practice of charging juveniles as adults, no matter what crime they commit. The bill would make it illegal to send a juvenile suspect and case to adult court, by treating children as children. If passed the bill would,change act 33, which passed the legislature i 1995 which states that a juvenile 15-17 years old can be tried as an adult for the crimes of rape and murder. Cambria County State Rep Frank Burns pushed back on the idea saying that kids 15-17 know right from wrong, and if they commit these crimes, they should be held accountable and will get no sympathy from him. Sponsor of the bill, Rep Christopher Rabb of Philadelphia believes that rehabilitation not incarceration is what these children need.
